Iran’s Security Council blocks enforcement of hijab law

Iran's Supreme National Security Council, the country's highest decision-making body, has suspended the enforcement of a contentious hijab law, despite its prior approval by parliament.

On Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced that the SNSC had directed parliament not to implement the Law to Support the Family by Promoting Chastity and Hijab.

The legislation was passed in December 2023 and aimed to impose stricter penalties on women violating mandatory hijab regulations, including heavy fines and imprisonment.

The law had faced significant domestic and international criticism, with the United Nations describing it as "gender apartheid."

While the decision is seen by some as weakening Islamic principles, others argue for individuals' freedoms and women's rights.